Table 2.

Contamination sources during the pre- and postharvest stages in raw vegetables.

Stage	Factor
Preharvest	Soil, irrigation water, inadequately composted manure, human handling, reconstituted fungicides and insecticides, seasons (fall, winter, and spring)
Postharvest	Harvesting equipment, transport container, contaminated water used for washing, transport vehicles and processing equipment, unclean implements, poor hygiene in hands, cross contamination (preparation or storage)